By Toyin Adeniyi
Anglican Bishop of Ilesha Diocese, The Rt Rev Dapo Asaju of has criticized the response of President Bola Tinubu to the recent killing of Christians describing it as inadequate and urging the Church in Nigeria to adopt a more proactive stance in the face of rising insecurity.
Speaking during an interview with ACNNTV monitored online by Church Times, the Bishop also a Professor of Theology expressed disappointment over President Tinubu’s handling of the March 29 attacks, particularly his failure to visit affected communities.
He described the president’s reported brief appearance at the airport, where he addressed the situation without proceeding to the scene of the killings, as a show of insensitivity to grieving families.
“It is appalling that the president will come to the airport… and could not go to the place where the carnage took place to empathize with the people,” he said.
Placing the incident within a broader pattern of violence, the cleric noted that attacks on Christian communities are not new, referencing similar killings in Plateau and Benue states, as well as in parts of the North-East.
According to him, the recurrence of such incidents without decisive action has deepened fear and frustration among believers.
“This is not the first time we have experienced massacres… and nothing has happened,” he lamented, stressing that failure to prosecute offenders has emboldened perpetrators. He stressed that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.
“Justice demands that they should be brought to book. How many have been brought to book?” he queried.
Bishop Asaju further alleged that the nation’s security architecture has been compromised, raising concerns about the welfare and effectiveness of military personnel, even as he acknowledged their sacrifices.
He also turned his criticism inward, calling out Christian leaders for what he described as a lack of urgency and unity in responding to the crisis.
“The Christian leaders are busy… at a time when Nigeria is burning. We are in real problem,” he said, urging church leaders to rise beyond routine activities and confront the realities facing their congregations.
While condemning the violence, the bishop cautioned against retaliation, warning that cycles of revenge could worsen the situation.
“When violence is sponsored, an eye for an eye makes the whole world go blind,” he said, echoing the words of Mahatma Gandhi.
However, he emphasized that Christians must move beyond passive responses and begin to take deliberate steps toward self-preservation and advocacy.
“We are discovering now, unless we can defend ourselves… that is going to be the only way,” he said, while also calling for strategic engagement with “reasonable people” across religious divides and the international community to seek lasting solutions and protection for vulnerable communities.
He warned that continued inaction could further destabilise the country and threaten its democratic fabric, calling for both spiritual and practical responses, the bishop urged Christians to intensify prayers while also engaging in strategic planning and collective action. “Prayer is not enough. We Christians must now be able to re-strategise,” he said.
